It is often difficult for us adults to handle and take care of our emotions. This thing is even harder for children as they are still developing while we are already developed. Sometimes, caregivers worry about their preschoolers and their ability to regulate their emotions. For instance, some parents may think their child is too emotional or too sensitive, and it can be really worrisome for them.
However, as parents, you can teach your children how to regulate their emotions in a healthy manner. Your child’s ability to handle their emotions will affect each and every part of their life. In the future, it can affect their career, education, and also the relationships that they develop over time. So, if you want your child to manage their emotions better, you can teach them the following skills that will enable them to deal better with their emotions and feelings.
1. Relating and validating
At times, parents tend to invalidate what their child is feeling. This makes them say things that make their child feel like what they are going through is not important or insignificant. It is okay to experience and have emotions, even if sometimes things feel out of hand.
If you recognize what your child is feeling, you must try to put a name to address it. For example, you can tell them that the emotions they are feeling are either stress, sadness, or frustration. Once you help them identify their feelings, you must offer them empathy and understand what they are feeling.
You can tell them that sometimes you also feel that way. This will help them relate with others so that they know that, like them, other people also have such emotions and that they are not the only ones. In addition, you must tell them that these emotions and feelings will not last and that they are going to feel better.
2. Accepting
As parents, you can sometimes feel confused or overwhelmed when your child is feeling overly emotional or sensitive. It may even be possible that you may not understand why they are feeling such a way. But, you must acknowledge what they are feeling and let them know that what they are feeling is okay and you will be there for them when they need you.
Children need to cope, recognize, and understand what they are going through. This will help them feel accepted and seen, which can allow them to have access to the support that they require.
In addition, you must avoid telling them things that make them feel that they are weak because they feel overly emotional or sensitive. Instead, you must normalize these feelings and help them to accept such feelings instead of making them feel bad for experiencing such feelings in the first place.
3. Catering to your child
Every child differs from the other, especially when it comes to handling their emotions. Some children may want to be close to their caregivers when they are feeling emotional, while others will like to remain distant. No matter what they feel, you have to teach them some coping mechanisms.
When they are feeling frustrated, angry, or stressed, you can tell them that when you are frustrated, you like to listen to music or read a book and give them suggestions to do the same as per their liking. But you must make sure that your child is calm so that they can pick their own coping mechanism.
After a while, your child will have their own in-built coping strategies that will allow them to deal with any situation. Over time, their coping strategies may change. So, always remain encouraging.
4. Modelling good behavior
Whenever your preschooler is throwing a tantrum, you must not scream at them or punish them. If you do this, you will just be reinforcing the behavior of your child. This is because it will help them think that it is okay to have anger outbursts.
If you deal with your child in a calm manner when they are having an emotional outburst, you will be teaching your child the right way to address their anger. On the other hand, they will try to develop the right coping mechanisms with your help.
Conclusion
It is important to validate the feelings of your child whenever they are going through a hard time. You can try to help them identify the feelings that they are feeling. On the other hand, you, as the caregiver, must accept the way they are feeling instead of approaching their emotions in a negative way.
Instead of reacting by shouting or punishing them, you must help them to develop the right coping strategies. This way, they will be able to learn how to deal with their emotions in a constructive manner and regulate their feeling in a better way.